Assessment of SIBALERA Neck Pillow With Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) to Attention Function Among Medical Students in Indonesia

Abstract

Introduction: The quality parameter of a country’s education is closely related with learning achievement, where attention plays an important role. In support of learning achievement, individuals often enforce their study time till induce stress or physical fatigue over a long term. Neck pillow is often used as a media at rest for body’s relaxation. The Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) can also provide relaxation and can trigger the release of dopa- mine hormone which functions as a neurotransmitter in the attention process. Based on these problems, we design a research on SIBALERA; a portable neck pillow with ASMR stimulation can improve attention function. Methods: This research used an experimental design of three parallel groups pre and post-test design. The participant (n=48) was randomly divided into three groups. The control group was not given any intervention (n=16), intervention group 1 was given regular neck pillow without ASMR stimulation (n=16), and intervention group 2 was given SIBALERA (n=16). ASMR stimulation was given by hearing twenty minutes before the participants went to sleep at night for two weeks.The attention function were measured used the Attention Network Test (ANT) the day before and after the intervention. Results: The result showed a significant difference scores of attention functions including alerting, orienting, and executive in the intervention group 2 (p<0.001) than the other two groups. Conclusion: In summary, SIBALERA with ASMR stimulation can effectively improve the attention function.